Colloid diffusion on phospholipid membranes is anomalous

ORAL

Abstract

We demonstrate experimentally a simple system in which mean-squared displacement is proportional to time yet the distribution function of displacement probability is exponential, not Gaussian as expected for a classical random walk. This is the case of fluorescent submicron-sized beads that diffuse in one dimension in the smooth potential presented by tubes composed of phospholipid bilayer.~ A discussion of possible physical origins suggests that a family of physical systems whose few degrees of freedom couple to slow environmental fluctuations may behave analogously.

Authors

  • Bo Wang

    • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
    • U of Illinois - Urbana - Champaign
  • Stephen Anthony

    • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
    • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
    • U of Illinois - Urbana - Champaign
  • Sung Chul Bae

    • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
    • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    • U of Illinois - Urbana - Champaign
  • Steve Granick

    • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
    • University of Illinois
    • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
    • University of Illinois at Urbana and Champaign